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As soon as Elior stopped his car near the gates of the Amusement Park, Zayn’s eyebrows knit together. He looked out at the bright lights, loud music, and laughter echoing from inside.

Zayn turned sharply toward Elior. “You brought me to an amusement park? What am I five?”

Elior chuckled, stepping out of the car and coming around to open Zayn’s side. “Trust me, Zayn. This will be fun.”

Zayn rolled his eyes but got out, muttering, “I highly doubt it.”

They walked inside, and everything felt chaotic colors, smells, people yelling from rides, kids running past. Zayn looked mildly horrified.

“Have you ever been to one before?” Elior asked, walking beside him.

Zayn scoffed. “No. Never in my life.”

Elior looked genuinely shocked. “Then today’s your lucky day.”

Before Zayn could protest again, Elior extended his hand. “Come on. Just once. Trust me.”

Zayn paused. His eyes flicked down at the offered hand, then slowly very slowly he placed his hand into Elior’s. It fit oddly well.

Elior smiled. Zayn tried not to.

The first ride they got on was one of those huge pendulum-like giant swings, moving forward and backward until it nearly flipped. As they were being strapped in, Zayn looked uneasy.

“You’re going to love it,” Elior teased.

Zayn only managed a dry, “I hate you already.”

The ride started.

At first, Zayn was silent. Then it swung higher. And higher. And then

“OH MY GOD!! WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS???” Zayn screamed, clinging onto the bar.

Elior was laughing uncontrollably beside him, wind blowing his hair wildly. “THIS IS AMAZING!”

“WE’RE GONNA DIE!!”

They didn’t die. But by the time they stumbled out, Zayn’s knees were shaking.

“I felt… weird. Like my soul left my body,” he panted.

“Your soul’s back now,” Elior grinned, “And it looks sexier than ever.”

Zayn gave him a light shove. “Shut up, idiot.”

The day went on more rides, laughter, cotton candy, and childish games Zayn would never admit he liked. At one of the stalls, he won a plush toy and proudly said, “This would look good in Rhys’s room.”

“You really care for him, don’t you?” Elior asked casually, watching him.

Zayn nodded, picking up a keychain too. “Yeah. Actually... he’s the only person I’ve ever truly loved.”

Elior blinked, pausing for a moment.

“Excuse me?” he asked, a little stunned.

Zayn turned to him, smirking. “Stop your imagination. As a friend, I mean. And besides, we’re both omegas, so... not exactly possible.”

Elior chuckled. “Still. Sounds like he’s your comfort zone.”

“Yeah. He is.”

Elior hesitated. “Not even your parents?”

Zayn’s face darkened slightly. “Naah. I basically hate them.”

“What? Seriously?”

“Hey, stop this interrogation, Mr. Blackwood,” Zayn replied with a cheeky look.

“Fine, fine.” Elior raised his hands in surrender. “But you’re way more interesting than you pretend to be.”

Later that evening, they ended up at a cozy but romantic rooftop restaurant. Candlelight flickered across Zayn’s face, and Elior couldn’t help but stare.

Zayn shifted uncomfortably under the attention.

“You look nervous,” Elior observed.

“Yeah… actually,” Zayn admitted. “I’ve never been to this kind of place… not like this. I mean, I’ve only ever come to places like this with Rhys. This is the first time I’ve been with someone else.”

“So,” Elior leaned forward slightly, voice softer, “Does that mean I’m your first date?”

Zayn looked into his eyes for a moment, then gave a small nod. “You already know the answer.”

Elior smiled and gently reached for Zayn’s hand across the table. His fingers brushed against Zayn’s, and when Zayn didn’t pull away, Elior held his hand gently.

“Then maybe,” Elior said, voice low, “I’m very lucky.”

For a second, the whole world felt quiet around Zayn. He didn’t know how to process what he was feeling but it wasn’t bad. Not at all.

---

Sometime later...

Elior’s car pulled into Zayn’s apartment complex. The night air was cooler now, the wind gently brushing across their faces.

Zayn unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to him. “Thanks. For today. I actually… felt amazing.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” Elior said, his voice steady. “In fact, thank you for agreeing to come.”

They both laughed lightly. Then the silence returned but it wasn’t awkward.

Just soft.

Their eyes met.

Zayn hesitated, then whispered, “I should go.”

He started to open the door, but before he could get out, Elior leaned in gently. Their faces were just inches apart now.

Zayn froze.

And then… slowly… Zayn closed his eyes.

Elior leaned in and kissed him softly no hunger, no roughness, just warm lips brushing like a promise.

When they broke apart, Zayn’s heart was racing.

“I’ll be going now,” he murmured, eyes still not meeting Elior’s.

But Elior reached forward again, kissed his forehead tenderly, and said, “Take care… and good night.”

Zayn, caught completely off guard, blushed. His lips twitched into a shy smile he tried to hide.

“Good night,” he whispered.

He got out, walked toward his building, and right before entering, turned back for a moment. Elior was still watching him from the car, a soft look on his face.

Zayn entered his building with a strange flutter in his chest.

---

Zayn stepped into the apartment, his heart thudding louder than ever in his chest. He pressed his fingers to his forehead where Elior had kissed him soft, tender, and entirely unexpected. The spot still felt warm. A soft blush crept onto his cheeks as the moment replayed again and again in his mind like a favorite scene from a romantic movie.

He walked into the living hall, where Rhys was already lounging on the couch, scrolling on his phone. The second Rhys looked up and saw Zayn’s flushed face and dreamy eyes, he shot up dramatically.

“Oh. My. God,” Rhys gasped, tossing his phone aside. “Where is my best friend? Who are you and what have you done with Zayn Alaric?”

Zayn rolled his eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at his lips. “Shut up, Rhys,” he mumbled, still unable to stop blushing.

“No, no. Don’t shut up. I demand full details. Every second. Every look. Every inappropriate thought you had during that date.”

Zayn walked over and plopped down on the couch beside him, letting out a long sigh. “It was… nice.”

“That’s it?” Rhys raised an eyebrow.

Zayn looked down, playing with the hem of his shirt, before finally glancing back at Rhys with a soft smile. “It was better than nice. It was… really good. We laughed, we talked, he took me to an amusement park even made me ride the most terrifying thing ever and then this super fancy dinner. And then…”

“And then what?” Rhys leaned in, eyes wide with excitement.

Zayn bit his lower lip. “He kissed me. Not like the random ones I usually do… this one was different. It was gentle… on the forehead.”

Rhys placed a hand dramatically over his heart. “A forehead kiss? Who are you and where is the emotionally unavailable devil I raised?”

Zayn laughed, nudging him. “I hate you sometimes.”

“No, you don’t. Now tell me everything.”

So Zayn did. He told him how awkward he felt at the restaurant, how Elior held his hand and didn’t make him feel weird about anything. And then he pulled out a small gift bag and handed it to Rhys.

“What’s this?” Rhys asked.

“Something that reminded me of you at the amusement park,” Zayn said with a shrug. “It’s stupid, but.”

Rhys opened it to find a silly pair of sunglasses shaped like stars. “You got me goofy glasses toy?”

“You’re a star in my life, idiot,” Zayn muttered.

Rhys laughed and hugged him tightly. “I love you, Zayn.”

Zayn leaned his head on Rhys’s shoulder, his voice soft. “He’s a good guy, Rhys. I didn’t expect it but… it feels right.”

Rhys smiled, stroking Zayn’s hair gently. “I told you. Sometimes you need to stop running and just let someone reach you.”

Zayn exhaled slowly. “I don’t know what’s next though. It’s all new to me. I mean, if he asks me anything serious, what if I freak out?”

“Then you freak out,” Rhys said simply. “But try not to. Sometimes… saying yes can be the best thing you’ll ever do. Not everything has to be scary.”

Zayn nodded slowly. “I’ll try. For him.”

Rhys shifted so his head rested gently on Zayn’s shoulder this time. “I’m really happy for you, Zayn.”

---

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